The LA Galaxy Insider Year in Review will begin with players who made the least number of appearances for the club in all official competitions over the course of the year, starting with Brian Perk and Bryan Gaul, who did not make any appearances for the first team this year, and concluding with midfielder Marcelo Sarvas who played in a team-best 42 games for LA this year. There will also be an evaluation of head coach and general manager Bruce Arena and his moves at the conclusion of the list.

We will have one or two evaluations per day and focus on what each player did well and what challenges they faced in 2013 as well as a select thought from the player on their performance and an overall assessment of their season from myself.

Brian Rowe

AGE: 23

POSITION: Goalkeeper

APPEARANCES IN ALL OFFICIAL COMPETITIONS FOR THE GALAXY: GP: 8 (4 in MLS, 3 in CONCACAF Champions League, 1 in U.S. Open Cup), GS: 8 (4 in MLS, 3 in CONCACAF Champions League, 1 in U.S. Open Cup), GA: 10, GAA: 1.25, RECORD: 4-4-0, SAVES: 14 (Saves only tracked in MLS play)

HIGHLIGHTS: Brian Rowe entered the season as the Galaxy’s third choice goalkeeper, but blossomed into a potential ‘keeper of the future for LA. Injuries to Carlo Cudicini and Brian Perk gave Rowe his MLS debut in April as he backstopped the Galaxy to a 2-0 road victory over Real Salt Lake that saw him make seven saves. The 25-year-old goalkeeper continued to build upon this stellar introduction through steady play in the Reserve League as he made eight appearances for LA, conceding just three goals. With Rowe keeping a high level with the reserves, he held the team’s backup role much of the season that saw him earn three more starts in league play as well as three appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League. It was in his penultimate CCL appearance that Rowe was at his most impressive as he gave another stellar showing, making several key saves, in LA’s 3-0 victory over C.S. Cartaginés.

CHALLENGES: Rowe remains a work in progress as a goalkeeper and the youngster was exposed during several key defeats for the Galaxy. Like most young goalkeepers Rowe’s over eagerness at times caused LA to drop results as he was caught out of position several times during the Galaxy’s U.S. Open Cup defeat to the Carolina RailHawks in May. Although the goalkeeper tightened up these issues during the summer with confident showings in MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League, he struggled in LA’s CCL finale as he conceded four goals in the Galaxy’s shocking 4-0 defeat to Isidro Metapán.

HIS THOUGHTS: “The one thing that I’ve learned is that it’s a long year and you never know what is going to happen. Your number may be called when you least expect it and you think that you’re in that third spot. Unfortunately Perk had some injuries, but it was an opportunity that arose for me and luckily, I was able to do well in the games that I got to play. Looking back, I thought it was a good year because I was able to progressively get more games. More than I thought I’d get and I thought I was able to perform well for the most part.”

OVERVIEW: There’s no doubt that Rowe took a quantum leap forward in his development in 2013, but with his career still in the formative stages, he’ll need to continue to progress next season. Although Rowe has displayed great confidence in his first full year as a professional, as well as an ability to make timely saves, he’ll need to improve his positioning as he was caught out on several instances, costing his team points. That being said, Rowe has laid a firm foundation for the 2014 season and he’ll be expected to enter the preseason as the backup to starter Jaime Penedo.